Information Architecture

Region 64 uses many systems (web based online tools) to manage its information. This is a quick overview of those systems.

The overall objective is:

Allow region webmasters to manage access to the region's information content and be the primary custodians for all information outside of WYS and eAYSO

While having the owners of each information area update their own content on our websites, calendars, docs, etc.

This distributes the work so few should need to wait for the webmaster to do updates and reduces webmaster workload. The webmaster is responsible for training others as needed. For instance, the coach admin updates the coach pages, ref admin the ref pages, etc. The webmaster provides technical assistance, ensures the right people have access, ensures the overall information architecture works and evolves reasonably, and updates things that only the webmaster can update.

IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTE -- All AYSO staff who have access to any of the systems below must:

The domain registrar we use -- low rates and extensive online self service.

Security: owned by special ayso64 account. The password and user ID are shared among the webmasters using LastPass.

Cost: Domain registration cost is about $14/year -- currently this is the only ongoing monetary cost to maintain all of Region 64's website. All of the other assets described on this page are currently available for free and could even earn money for our region if we wanted to feature Google Ads or other online ads.

All content under ayso64.org is maintained in Google Sites (https://sites.google.com/site/aysoregion64/) owned by Google Account aysoregion64 (as well as key senior board members) and access shared with region staff who need to update.

Security: Google Sites allows multiple owners as well as allows a Google Group to be an owner or editor.

Images - may be uploaded to site but better (particularly photos) to store in Picasa owned by Google Account aysoregion64. See also Photo Assets.

Attachments - may be uploaded into site but whenever possible should be converted into a standard web page of the site. The next best alternative is to store in Google Docs owned by aysoregion64@gmail.com and access shared with region staff who need to update. The final but least preferred is to upload a PDF of the document AND the original document onto the appropriate page -- but this uses more space and currently we are limited to 100 MB total. See also Web Maintenance.

A variety of Google Docs are used to run our region, some are visible publicly, others are shared only with those who need to know.

Security: They should all be owned by Google Account AYSOregion64@gmail.com and access shared with region staff who need to update them. Unfortunately only a single owner is allowed at a time. A Google group can be granted edit access but not be an owner.

Security: Multiple owners are allowed, one of which should be AYSOregion64@gmail.com. Edit access granted to multiple people as needed. Unfortunately as of Mar 1 2013, Google groups cannot be used to control access to custom maps.

Used to draw field locations. Owned by aysoregion64 account and other individuals. Sometimes links just embedded and no owner needed.

Cost: Funded by a portion of the $15/player/year our region pays to AYSO National

Database that contains all official AYSO player, team, volunteer, and other records.

Security: Managed per AYSO security policies which keep sensitive player and volunteer information properly secured. The security mechanisms are thorough and intricate. Regional Commissioners, Area Directors, Section Directors, and AYSO's national office maintain all access to this system.

Stand alone personal password manager. Using a password manager is important when you have many different passwords to remember. Every account should have a different and strong password - 12+ characters, upper & lower case, numbers, punctuation if possible.

Cost: Free unless you want to get extra features like mobile device versions.

The password manager/safe that we recommend is LastPass. LastPass is the best of the best -- very secure, supports just about every platform and web browser, automatically backs up your passwords in a safe manner. If you know of a better password manager, please let us know.

Security: Each LastPass account is individually owned but LastPass allows certain passwords to be securely shared when needed (for instance the password to the region's master account aysoregion64@gmail.com and the aysoregion64 GoDaddy account).

while the account aysoregion64 should own most of these assets, this account should rarely be used by anyone (webmasters may need to use it to organize some things). As much as possible people (even the webmasters) should use their own personal Google accounts to edit, change, and manage these assets so everyone knows who updated what. The central region and area accounts are just so we can have a central owner when needed (especially for Google Docs).